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Can a 45-year-old man maintain a marriage and a videogame habit? Let's find out!

Category Archives: Industry news

The Kindle Fire looks pretty nice

It’s not often I get excited about new product announcements anymore, but the Kindle Fire, Amazon’s first color Kindle, is pretty nice. In fact, the only complaint I have about it is that it features a traditional backlit screen; something I’m not interested in because I already own an Android phone.

I understand that even the latest eInk color screens might not be up to Jeff Bezos’ standards, but I can wait until they do and start appearing on the second generation of Kindle Fire devices.

That being said, if I wanted a backlit tablet, the Kindle Fire is pretty sweet. It can perform full Web browsing and even stream video in addition to reading books. (Not sure if it utilizes a YouTube video downloader, but its speeds are primarily determined by your WiFi network, so it’s probably pretty good.)

And with 8 GB of memory, it’s the beefiest Kindle device yet. And all for a price of $199? That’s an impressive debut, considering Barnes and Noble dropped the Nook Color to $229 the day before the announcement, hoping to undercut the widely-anticipated price-matching price of $250 that was expected out of Amazon.

The world is hurting right now from the loss of Steve Jobs. But with the innovation he’s displaying, I’d argue Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is a candidate to eventually become the next great tech innovator.

Second-gen iPad for a pre-order? What a deal!

The folks over at Out of the Park are really going out of their way to promote Out Of the Park Baseball 12. Last month, they gave away an iPod Touch in a drawing among those who pre-ordered OOTP 12, and this month (February) they are promising to give away a second-generation iPad to one lucky winner. All you need to do is pre-order OOTP 12 by the end of the month.

And the drawing is even open to those who pre-ordered (but didn’t win last month’s drawing) prior to February. That’s pretty darn nice, right? You can find out more here.

And if that doesn’t excite you, you probably need a round of effective fat burners more than the Yankees roster does… and that’s saying something!

For those of you not in the know, Out of the Park Baseball is the gold standard of pro baseball PC sports management sims. It does it all, and better than any of its competitors; of course, being around for eleven previous iterations kind of has that effect; they’ve been at it longer than anyone else.

So if you’re thinking about getting the game at all, pre-order before the month is out and get yourself a chance to receive an iPad 2 in the bargain. What kind of no-brainer is that, right?

Is there an app for that?

Being new to Android and the Android Market, it is amazing to me how many things there are apps for already. It comes as no surprise to Android veterans, I’m sure; but for me, there’s plenty of novelty to it.

I’ve searched and found apps for everything from something as simple as writing a manuscript on your phone, to something as unique and high in the “wow” factor as home automation. There are many solutions out there, and it’s simply amazing to me how much can be done these days with a smart-phone powered by the Android OS.

Seems like lots of providers are jumping on board, too; it’s no longer the realm of mere programming nerds, but a legitimate value-added feature of many legitimate companies to allow access to some or all of their services through an Android-powered cell phone. It’s not just games out there, people. Not anymore!

What would reinvigorate my interest in PSP?

While my PSP is a handy and reliable gaming platform, it’s been over a year since any title available on the platform has really made me stand up and take notice. I think part of the blame is the library of games being released; it’s an after-thought platform at this point, with iPhone and Droid phones becoming the hot gaming platforms of the last year. Game prices are small by comparison and the coolness factor has left Sony choking in the dust in much the same way modern coffee tables left an old-fashioned metal folding table in the dust decades ago.

So what would reinvigorate my interest in the PSP platform? Good question.

First, it’s time for an all-new PSP with beefier stats all the way around. Forget about maintaining backward compatibility and focus on making the new platform as cool and modern as possible. Pay attention to what iPhone and Droid are doing that works, and then improve upon it.

In fact, I’d recommend Sony forming a partnership with Google on the next PSP, so that it can use the Android OS and have access to the entire Android market. Sony could then make their own game apps available not just to new PSP2 owners, but the entire Android market.

So what would make PSP a must-have if it had to compete against the Droid X and the emerging tablet market like the Samsung Galaxy? Simple. Make PSP2 the most gamer-friendly mini-tablet on the market. That way, the selling point can be that it is capable of everything a normal Android phone or tab can do, plus all these exclusive “Sony extras.”

For example, while Sony could make all their game apps available on the Android market, they could make feature-loaded versions available exclusively on the PlayStation Store, which only Sony PSP2 owners had access to. That way, the hardcore gamer gets something extra, but the casual gamer that owns a Droid X or a Samsung Galaxy is still a potential market for Sony apps … a market Sony currently has no access to, even through PSP Go.

In fact, instead of calling it PSP2, they could make the new product launch a clearer departure by calling it something related, but different. Like… I don’t know… The Sony PlayStation Tab!

And here’s the clincher; here’s what could really make a Sony PlayStation Tab a hot seller. Instead of going the cell-phone route, follow the eReader market model, and offer the Sony PlayStation Tab in two flavors: WiFi Only or 3G + WiFi. And cover the 3G bill for those who adopt the 3G+WiFi model, the way Amazon does for Kindle and Barnes and Noble does for Nook.

Imagine: the full Android OS and market, free wireless gaming (no data plan to purchase), plus access to enhanced games through the PlayStation Store. It could be an all-in-one gadget… eReader, app platform, gaming tab, and more.

With the data rates that wireless companies are charging consumers, suddenly a deal like that would make the Sony PlayStation Tab a really hot item on everyone’s list.

Too many sequels

You know what’s sad? That most of the games that raise any interest in me at all anymore are all sequels. OK, I’m exaggerating a bit. After all, I enjoyed Alan Wake and even Alpha Protocol, two of the best original, non-sequel IPs offered in 2010. And I’m still waiting for a price break on Heavy Rain.

But be that as it may, most of the games I’m looking forward to, or have any interest in, are primarily sequels. Take Dragon Age 2, for instance, Or Fable 3. Or whatever Final Fantasy title comes out next that is NOT an MMO with high monthly fees. Or the final chapter of the Mass Effect trilogy.

These are the games that will actually motivate me to spend some money, as some point; but even with those, I’m not super-motivated enough to not wait for the price to drop from $60. I’m sure no one hiring for customer service representative work would want to hear this coming from an applicant – but I’m not looking for that kind of work, so I can just speak my mind: much like Hollywood, it feels like game companies are running out of ideas.

Am I alone in this perception?

My best idea of a videogame lately: an Android phone

Sometimes I wish cell providers didn’t charge an arm and a leg for a decent Web/email/data plan. I mean, thirty dollars per month, per line is just outrageous. But I’m quickly becoming a fan of the Android phones that are on the market, what with all the Droid apps that are available. Owning an Android phone like the Motorola Defy would be cool as can be.

But at T-Mobile’s prices? Umm, not worth it.

The best deal I can find is on my old provider, Virgin Mobile. They have a nice little Android phone that runs about $200-$250 for the phone up front, but then it’s a full-on Droid with full app access, and unlimited text and Web access, with about 400 minutes of talk time, all for only $25 a month.

That’s more like it; but for now, I’m probably going to stay on the T-Mobile family plan my wife and I are on. It’s not like I’m dying for the best web hosting plan found on a smartphone, or anything. I can live without a Droid.

Fresh PS3 games

Now that it’s mid-October, we’ve arrived at my favorite time of year; this is when the biggest tide of fresh videogames are released… the ones you spend the next year trying to catch up on as they go down in price. And of there’s any platform I own that needs new selections to choose from, its my PS3.

I’ve almost caught up to Holiday 2009 releases; I now own Mass Effect 2, all the Dragon Age stuff, Alpha Protocol and Alan Wake. About the only big title left for me to wish I had is Heavy Rain. So it’s time to start lining up a new wish list. I need some new PS3 games to wish for!

Fortunately there are some PS3 games due for release in October and November that will definitely make my new wishlist. Just glancing over forthcoming releases, here are a few that jump out at me: Gran Turismo 5 is near the top of my list, if it lives up to the promises; I’m normally not a racing fan but have always had a soft spot for this series, due to its RPG-style elements.

And while they won’t be released until 2011, just missing the winter holiday season, I’m certainly interested in Deus Ex Human Revolution and Sorcery, since I’m a big RPG fan. But I’ll have to wait until spring for Dragon Age 2 and Dungeon Seige III.

When new PS3 games are released, it always reinvigorates my interest in gaming; this is a thinner PS3 season than normal, but the titles that I suspect I’ll like are still pretty good. Videogame consoles live or die by how many interesting titles they have. So far, PS3 is still in the game for me, even if 360 has an advantage.

SCRABBLE for Kindle?

Electronic Arts has recognized the Kindle as a potential revenue stream now, also.

Their latest release for the eReader platform? SCRABBLE. And you know what, it’s actually a great game concept when you consider what kine of games might appeal to avid readers who own Amazon Kindles.

Of course, I guess it really came down to two choices; either they could port the last disc of Xenogears, the classic PSone Square RPG, to Kindle… you know, because the last disc of Xenogears was mostly just reading… or they could offer up something like SCRABBLE.

(Actually, there’s a third option, but it involves surfing over to www.humangrowthhormone.org.)

I believe EA chose the best possible path.

Cured of Madden fever

I used to wait as breathlessly as anyone for the release of the newest edition of Madden NFL. In fact, I was there from the very first edition on Sega Genesis, and bought the title uninterrupted until Sony introduced the original PlayStation. Even after that, I still loved Madden and bought it most years.

But in the past four years, I’ve grown less and less interested in Madden. Part of that is marriage, part of that is waning interest in football, and part of that is growing too enamored of PC sports management sims that are, simply put, more compelling to me at 43.

I mean, I still love football; I’m a fan of the Vikings and there will always be a place in my heart for, say, Adrian Peterson personalized footballs.

But Madden? Maybe I’ve played it for too long, too many years, but it’s just not compelling anymore. Sorry, EA!

My Kindle 3 is preordered

Once Amazon announced the Kindle 3, I knew the time had come for me to commit to getting one; but I wanted to wait a bit. Then they sold out of the initial supply, so I finally decided I didn’t want to wait too long and end up not getting one till 2011. So I preordered.

Now I’ll just need to budget for it. At $139, it’s not an unreasonable price and I can budget for it. Then I’ll need to work on saving up for one for my wife. I think it’d make a nice birthday gift, and simplify her book-buying. But I’ll let her try mine first to see if it’s something she’d like well enough to use.

We’ll see. At least Kindle is a whole lot more interesting than talking about a life insurance lead, though that’s fun, too, if you’re in sales.

Kindle 3 announced

OK, so it’s not exactly a videogame, and the announcement didn’t come with a big giveaway of promotional umbrellas or anything like that, but Amazon.com today announced the third generation of the six-inch Kindle, and all I can say is, “Wow.”

For the budget conscious, I see they are offering a “WiFi-only” model for $139… that’s $50 less than any previous Kindle device, and with twice the memory of the K2… 4GB instead of only 2GB. With better screen contrast, longer battery life, a smaller, lighter form and faster performance, it’s everything I’ve wanted to see in a Kindle before deciding to buy one.

I thought I’d have to somehow find a way to save up for a Kindle DX to get all these features, but now the Kindle 3 has everything the DX has, except for a bigger screen. And with the WiFi access, it has one feature even the DX doesn’t have so far.

I’ve been vacillating between a Kindle, a Kindle DX and a Nook for a long time now; but I’ve finally decided that K3 is what I’m looking for, at the price I’m willing to pay. (Plus, I’ll probably re-activate my Audible account to get $100 knocked off my Kindle 3.)

Do I love gadgets almost as much as videogames? Sure… but I love reading even more!

Newest target date for GT 5? November 2010!

Gran Turismo 5 will be the most recent full redo of Sony’s signature CarPG racing title, once it arrives, and the latest word on the oft-delayed title is that it’ll land this November, only six months from now. How realistic this timetable may be is anyone’s guess, but the upcoming E3 event should shed plenty of light on the game.

Sony’s Polyphony Studios, responsible for the franchise, has teased gamers with previews ever since the PS3 launched; a single-car, two track foretaste was released around the same time Sony debuted the PS3 version of the PlayStation Network.

Since then, a somewhat abbreviated version of the title, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, is the best the company has been able to manage. Even though it lacked the depth of cars and tracks its predecessors featured, the game still had more depth than most racing games on this or any previous generation.

Plus, last fall, Sony released the PSP version of Gran Turismo at long last, almost simultaneously with the PSP Go! system.

But now, with November as the next tentative target date for Gran Turismo 5, one wonders if this will finally be the year it’s actually released. The game is said to feature 16-player online play, and if that’s done over Sony’s free PSN network, the company could finally have a title that puts Xbox Live to shame, rather than browsing www.bestdietsupplements.org in peace..